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By Fred C. Bond

SIX years have passed since the last grindability table was published.' In that time the list has been increased with many new tests, and the development of the new Third Theory of Comminution2 has made possible the reduction of all results to a consistent work index value. In this tabulation all grindability and crushability test results are given in terms of the work index, with formulas for reversion to the older units if desired. The average values for 57 different classes of materials are listed in Table I. The total number of work index values listed is 1211, and the overall average work index is 14.42. The complete tabulation, with each test listed alphabetically both under material type and under company name, can be obtained by writing to the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co., Processing Machinery Department, Milwaukee 1, Wisconsin. The work index Wi is the calculated total work input in kilowatt-hours per short ton required to re- duce from theoretically infinite particle size to 80 pct passing 100 microns, or to approximately 67 pct passing 200 mesh. The work inputs required per ton for the same size reduction of different materials are directly proportional to their work indexes, and according to the Third Theory the work input per ton is inversely proportional to the square root of the diameter of the product particles. Where W represents the work input in kilowatt hours per ton, where F is the feed size, or diameter in microns of the square hole which 80 pct of the feed passes, P the product size, or microns which 80 pct of the product passes, and Rr the reduction ratio F/P, the work index Wi is found from Rr-l 100 When the work index Wi is known, the work input W required to reduce from any feed size F to any product size P is found from W = Wi ( Rr- 1 100

Jan 1, 1954

Downtime cannot be tolerated on electric shovels whose cost may approach or exceed $400,000 each. The same may be said for larger-variety off-highway trucks which require an operational expenditure upwards of $50 per hour. One company, for instance, in order to ensure a more continuous operation, has specified centralized lubrication for all of its new equipment. In wet or dry weather, the mining of asbestos can place undue strains on machinery and other equipment. When the mineral is dry, its dusty, loose fibers work their way into crevices, and when wet, the glutinous asbestos may adhere to axles, gears and other wear components. Such conditions are multiplied during the extreme cold winters of eastern Canada. It is more difficult to lubricate and maintain equipment, and erosiveness becomes more punishing to wear parts. Resultant breakdowns rapidly drain off profits.

Jan 1, 1971

By Fred C. Bond

SIZE of grinding media is one of the principal factors affecting efficiency and capacity of tumbling-type grinding mills. It is best determined for any particular installation by lengthy plant tests with carefully kept records. However, a method of calculating the proper sizes, based on correct theoretical principles and tested by experience, can be very helpful, both for new installations and for guiding existing operations. As a general principle, the proper size of the make-up grinding balls added to an operating mill is the size that will just break the largest feed particles. If the balls are too large the number of breaking contacts will be reduced and grinding capacity will suffer. Moreover, the amount of extreme fines produced by each contact will be increased, and size distribution of the ground product may be adversely affected.

Jan 5, 1958

By G. M. Ritcey

The design of the plant facilities together with the necessary equipment required for the operation is at an optimum only for the specified plant with its peculiar priorities and preferences. Because many alternatives in design are possible to suit a particular plant, each plant designer and contractor must choose carefully in the selection of the site, design and choice of materials of construction, as well as the type of equipment necessary for the process. Basic factors as efficiency, dependability, simplicity, and safety must be considered early in the construction; while the choice of equipment, materials of construction, possible corrosion problems, automation, maintenance, effluents disposal and tailings dam construction can greatly affect the plant costs. While existing plants are in operation, the know-how gained from the operating experience of those plants can be invaluable in the new plant planning, design, and construction.

Jan 1, 1978

By H. Kosmider, P. Coheur

New processes of blowing with an oxygen-enriched air or gas mixtures of oxygen and steam allow the steelmaker to produce, in a basic converter, a rimmed steel low in nitrogen (0.0020 pct), phosphorous (0.020 pct), and sulphur (0.020 pct). The physical properties (ductility) of the new steels are excellent. Furthermore, from the point of view of economy, these new methods of blowing offer outstanding possibilities. THE natural occurrence of geological deposits of iron ore and local economic circumstances led European blast furnace men to work large quantities of lean iron ore with a phosphorus content as high as 0.5 pct. The iron obtained from these ores generally contains 1.5 to 2.1 pct phosphorus, 3.6 to 3.9 pct carbon, 0.3 to 0.6 pct silicon, 0.04 to 0.08 pct sulphur, and 0.3 to 1.2 pct manganese. To produce steel from this pig iron, the steelmaker has at his disposal several processes. One of the simplest and most economical is the pneumatic process developed by S. G. Thomas in 1879. This process of steelmaking, called the Thomas process, consists of blowing through the bottom of a basic bessemer converter and is used widely in Western Europe, as shown in Table I. Due to the development of tonnage oxygen plants, this process has become more important because the use of oxygen offers new possibilities of steel manufacture. Not only may the quality of the steel be improved, but liquid pig iron also may be used, the composition of which does not meet the heat requirements of the blow with atmospheric air. It is not intended to present here a detailed scientific discussion of the basic bessemer process but rather to discuss briefly its industrial possibilities in the case of rimmed steel and when blowing with atmospheric air, oxygen-enriched air, or gas mixtures of oxygen and steam. This paper is based on the current practice at Klockner-Hüttenwerk Haspe's steel division, and at six Belgian and Luxemburg steel works. The latter are members of the Liege section of the C.N.R.M. (National Institute for Metallurgical Research) and are: ARBED, John Cocker-ill, Esperance-Longdoz, HADIR, Miniere et Metal-lurgique de Rodange, and Ougree-Marihaye, most of which are working with tonnage oxygen plants.' In order to avoid any misunderstanding, it should be noted that most of the techniques to be men- tioned, or similar ones, are used currently at many steel plants in Western Europe. Background The basic converters used in Europe have a capacity of 17 to 65 tons of steel, and are similar in shape to the one in Fig. 1. The lining is brick or rammed dolomite and has a life of 250 to 500 blows. The bottom is rammed dolomite and has a life of 40 to 80 blows. As far as we know, the type of blast used does not appear to have any influence on the life of the lining. Bottom life, on the contrary, depends very much upon the composition of the blast. It is only when

Jan 1, 1955

By I. A. Goddard

INTRODUCTION This paper deals with the development of the sublevel open stoping (SLOS) method in lead orebodies at the Isa Mine of Mount Isa Mines Limited, during the last ten years. Open stoping in different forms has been used at the Isa Mine for many years. Prior to the period under review, stopes were small, pillars were not always recovered, and scrapers extracted the ore. By the end of the sixties, the use of load-haul-dump units was becoming more widespread. Wagner ST5's were the mucking units for the lead cut and fill stopes. Some of the open stopes in 5 orebody above 13 level had 100 kW slushers, but the more southerly stopes were the sites for the introduction of diesel front-end loaders for extraction. In the early seventies, new methods were used in the block of six stopes in 2 and 5 orebodies between 8 level and 13 level and a trial stoping project was undertaken in 7 orebody between 11 level and 13 level to determine possible stope dimensions for the extraction of the Racecourse orebodies below 13 level. By the mid-19701s, stoping was well underway in 5, 7 and 8 orebodies between 13 level and 15 level, using the 'triplet' system, incorporating cemented hydraulic fill to allow greater pillar recovery. As the eighties were entered, development of the Racecourse orebodies below 15 level commenced, as did preparations for 1 orebody in the upper levels of the north end of the mine. In both cases, the pillar recovery method has been changed to reduce the amount of cemented fill required for pillar recovery. GEOLOGY Most of the lead orebodies at Isa Mine lie chiefly to the north of the central shaft complex. They are bedded sulphide deposits in a host rock called Urquhart Shale, which dips at roughly 650 to the west. The main minerals are galena and sphalerite, with the silver mineral, freibergite, being contained in the galena. To the hangingwall of the sequence are the Black Star orebodies (1, 2 and 5) which are relatively wide, pyritic and with low to above average grade lead. The Racecourse orebodies (6 to 16) lie to the footwall, and have a large variation in width, low to high grade lead, and gradation in the lead to zinc ratio from north to south. Stope outlines are often determined by economic or engineering considerations rather than geological. The published extraction reserves are 56 million tonnes of primary ore, containing 150 grams of silver per tonne, 6.4% lead and 6.5% zinc. Traditionally, it has been regarded as lead ore, although the dominant revenue earner varies from time to time. In the Black Star orebodies, the ore and hangingwalls are more competent and open stoping has long been used. The major Racecourse orebodies which have been open stoped are 7 and 8 orebodies. This has been where the orebodies are wider (to the south) and where hangingwall conditions allow. This latter aspect has been greatly influenced by the presence of 'silica dolomite1. This tough, relatively homogeneous, non-bedded rock is, in fact, the host rock for the copper mineralisation at Mount Isa, and provides a competent hangingwall for some of the lead stopes. While the shale's bedding and jointing has a major influence on the ground conditions, there is a major fault system which causes local problems. The principal virgin stress direction is perpendicular to the bedding, but the local stress situation is complicated because of shielding by filled stopes in the hangingwall copper orebodies and because of the interaction between orebodies being extracted to the footwall. Most development on strike is mined with a 'shanty-back’, with the back being as close to normal to the bedding as possible. This is near parallel to most jointing and the principal stress direction. Figure 1 is a plan view of 14 level north, which provides a representative horizontal section through the orebodies. A typical cross section is shown in Figure 2. The narrow, parallel footwall orebodies can be seen to differ from the wider hangingwall orebodies.

Jan 1, 1981

By Gilbert H. Cady

Those coal mining and preparation engineers and operators who read this article will probably be most concerned with those parts which deal with the applied aspects of coal petrology in the fields of mining and technology. Actually the two categories overlap to such a degree that they are essentially one. The article appears to suggest that there are two points of veiw in the field of applied coal petrology. From one viewpoint the interest is in the attributes of the various macerals (Fig. 4)-vitrinite, exinite, and inertinite-in terms of utilization (when the coal is burned, coked, gasified, hydrogenated, etc.). From the other point of view, assuming that the macerals do possess individuality in behavior, interest attaches to the possibility that coal of a particular type (maceral composition) can be prepared by discriminating methods of preparation and blending. Most of the 29 items listed for mining and technology can be assigned to one or the other of these two categories.

Jan 5, 1958

By John Tyssowski

IN 1925, Harry Howard Stout, then metallurgist for Phelps Dodge Corporation, while investigating the cleaning of cathode copper by various gases at elevated temper-atures below the melting point of the metal, observed in the laboratory that particles of pure copper heated in a closed tube filled with hydrogen seemingly "stuck together." By further investigation he found that there was actual crystal growth across the boundaries of the particles of pure metal; in other words, there was a complete new crystal realignment and growth throughout the newly formed copper mass. It was coalescence, not adhesion; the several parti-cles had become one unit. From this dis-covery has been developed the coalescence process, whereby copper of cathode purity is squirted out in semifabricated form from an extrusion press, by the appli-cation of about 3000 tons pressure on a 10-in. piston. Stout decided that cathode copper pro-duced by electrolytic deposition was the logical source of the pure copper required for the coalescence process, but as there was no way of reducing the ordinary tough commercial cathodes to the small particles required he was confronted by a serious problem at the outset. Under his direction, this problem was solved by William H. Osborn and Harry Howard Stout, Jr. They developed the process and technique for producing cathode copper in brittle, friable

Jan 1, 1940

By Arthur Wilson, Frederick Carr

INTRODUCTION 1. The application of retreat longwall mining to the North American coal mining conditions is becoming more advantageous as more experience is gained. The productivity results being achieved and potential possible illustrates that this system can be keystone of future underground coal production. 2. In the American coal fields multi-entry is normally practiced as this allows profitable longwall development with existing equipment and systems. Difficulties are being experienced however in the longwall retreat phase by the collapse of multi-entry roadways and excessive use of supplemental support in the following panel tailgates. In some instances the headgate of an operating face can also be in difficulty. 3. Jim Walter Resources Mining Division is developed on a mining plan that calls for three retreat longwalls at each of its four deep mines which have varying depths of cover and immediate roof and floor conditions. The 63 Mine has experienced longwall entry difficulty and there were differing viewpoints with respect to the best development systems to adopt particularily regarding the number of entries and pillar sizes. In an attempt to reconcile these different points of view J.W.R. asked Dr. Wilson to examine the problem and this paper outlines the new approach developed.

Jan 1, 1983

By A. J. Erickson, W. J. Garmoe

In mid-1970, Park City Ventures, a Utah partnership of Asarco and the Anaconda Company, initiated a six-phase exploration and development program in the Park City District, Utah. Geologic studies had delineated a number of exploration targets in several areas of the district. Discovery of ore in any of the target areas and continued favorable downdip development below then productive ore bodies would allow for reserve expansion and mill construction. The targets were: replacement mineralization in the Mississippian Humbug formation below productive ore bodies on the east flank of the Park City anticline; replacement mineralization in the Humbug formation in an unexplored fault block in the footwall of the Hawkeye structure on the east flank of the anticline; vein and replacement mineralization along the Silver Fissure; potentially higher grade replacement mineralization in the Humbug formation in a theorized structural block on the west flank of the anticline beneath the Ontario vein; replacement mineralization in the Permian Park City formation in the West End shaft area of the Silver King mine; vein mineralization along the Back vein in the Judge mine. In 1971 the Judge and Silver King Projects were suspended, due to a 30% cutback in the exploration budget. In spite of the cutback additional reserves were developed below the Humbug East Flank ore bodies; a major zone of ore grade mineralization was discovered along the Silver Fissure, five new ore bodies were found in the Humbug and Doughnut formations on the west flank of the anticline beneath the Ontario vein. First concentrates were shipped from a new mill in May 1975.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. W. Graham

THE young metallurgist of today who thinks casually of the technical literature of the steel industry might conclude that little has been published concerning the Bessemer process. This conclusion is true as relating to the last decade or two, but there is a fairly voluminous Bessemer literature in the period of 1860 to 1910, Since that time, however, an entirely new level of metal-lurgical knowledge of steelmaking has been reached; and the present paper is simply an effort to look broadly from this new level and to bring the recorded history of the process up to date, It is an effort to appraise the acid Bessemer method of steelmaking in the light of today's technical knowledge thereof. In this paper matters of history will be dealt with only insofar as they contribute to an understanding of today's situation. Attention will be directed to the apparent causes of past developments in seeking to perceive the true direction of trends now in existence and effective as bearing upon future developments. The paper will discuss the economics of the Bessemer process, but only to the extent that will bear upon the metallurgist's understanding of his respon-sibility. The problem of the quality of Bes-semer steel will be reviewed and examples will be given of the technical data upon which the reasoning of the paper is based, Matters of engineering design, mechanical maintenance, operation and metallurgical investigation will be surveyed. Compari-sons will be made between the Bessemer and open-hearth processes for the sake of clear and ready understanding,

Jan 1, 1940

By Richard E. Chism

I have thought it well to lay before the Institute some account of the Vallecillo Mines, now, I believe, the only paying ones in American hands in northeastern Mexico, including the States of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas. The authentic history of these mines dates from their ownership by an American Company in the year 1851, when they were bought by the Vallecillo Silver Mining Company of New York. They had been worked before by the Spaniards, but had been abandoned for many years, on account of the heavy expense of drainage and the constant incursions of the Indians. The company commenced work with several well-known New York capitalists among its stockholders, and had a large fund of both money and enthusiasm. The first point of attack was at a shaft on a mine known as the Jesus Maria, which had the most favorable traditions. Extensive buildings were put up, and two sets of pumps were successively tried. After the second pump, with a steam-cylinder 5 feet in diameter and 10 feet stroke and a plunger 20 inches in diameter, had failed to do more than hold the water, with infinite labor, at the 250 feet level, and after a thorough exploitation of the whole mine above that level had failed to yield more than some $30,000 worth of ore, it was resolved to abandon the effort. Operations were accordingly transferred to the old Dolores shaft, at a point about 21/2 miles to the

Jan 1, 1885

By D. J. Bourne, G. E. Atwood

The new potash refinery of Duval Sulphur & Potash Co. produced its first tonnage of muriate of potash in November 1951. Full capacity was attained in early 1952. Excellent extraction efficiency is being obtained by the process, which is basically froth flotation. System temperature control is practiced and has proved to be of great metallurgical value through high potassium recovery and. low reagent cost. WHEN Duval Sulphur and Potash Co. recently entered the established potash industry, the vast amount of pioneer work essential in an entirely new endeavor was unnecessary. Thus it was possible to screen and assemble proved techniques into a highly efficient process based on the combined knowledge of the industry. It is hoped that the refinements Duval has added to these cumulative achievements will contribute to the rapid advance of the potash industry and related enterprises. The process selected utilizes as raw material syl-vinite ore typical of the Permian Basin. This ore is principally comprised of interlocked crystals of potassium chloride, about 40 pct, and sodium chloride. Also there is as much as 1 1/2 pct of dispersed clay slime which, because of its nature, highly complicates beneficiation of these ores. The refining method is basically flotation in which the mineral sylvite is floated away from the halite-clay gangue to produce a 60 pct K,O muriate of potash product for the plant-food trade. It departs from established practice in the use of an improved reagent scheme, developed by the company's technical staff, and in

Jan 1, 1954

By Paul I. Eimon, Byron R. Berger

INTRODUCTION Epithermal silver-gold deposits form at low to moderate temperatures in near-surface environments. These deposits are found in all rock types, but historically, the most important deposits occur as veins in volcanic rocks (e.g., Creede, Colorado; Pachuca, Mexico) and as replacements in sedimentary sequences (e.g., Mercur, Utah; Carlin, Nevada). Increases in the open-market prices for silver and gold in the last few years have resulted in renewed interest in precious metals and the economic viability of large-tonnage low-grade deposits. These bulk-mineable deposits form as replacements in permeable horizons or as stockworks in the up- per parts of otherwise bonanza-type hydrothermal systems and newly recognized systems that erupted onto the surface as hot springs, fumaroles, or geysers. Large tonnage low-grade de- posits were an unconventional resource prior to price increases; however, now they constitute one of the main sources of precious metals in the United States and the importance is growing worldwide. This paper presents conceptual geologic- geochemical models of epithermal precious-metal deposits derived from studies of productive deposits throughout the world. Much of the data presented is not new. However, the interpretation of the data in terms of current concepts of hydrothermal processes is new. This paper deals with idealized and general ore-forming mechanisms, and no attempt is made either to explain the origin of the different chemistries of ore- forming fluids or to examine all of the variations in specific deposits due to local structural controls and host-rock compositions.

Jan 1, 1983

Draftsman and transitman for coal mine work in Middle West. Salary $125 per month. No. 277. Technical graduate wanted for metallurgical work in experimental laboratory of large New England manufacturing concern. A knowledge of metallography of steel is essential. Practical experience is desirable but not required. No. 305. High-class man to install and take charge of a coal mining property. Must be experienced in handling labor and of good sound judgment. Work will require a man to be on the grounds practically all the time. The work is drift mining and is not gaseous. No. 306. Engineer familiar with the acid treatment and melting of cyanide precipitates; also a competent assayer. Applicant must be able to furnish good references. No. 307. Wanted-practical mining man, foreman, or superintendent for work in middle or southern Atlantic States. Salary $200 per month. No. 308.

Jan 5, 1918

By S. D. Michaelson

Open pits and quarries are the major sources of all "hard rock" tonnage mined today. Normally, ore is fractured from the pit face by blasting and then truck-hauled to a primary crusher where pro- cessing begins; overburden (or waste) is generally truck-hauled from the pit to dump areas. Truck haulage of blasted ore and overburden accounts for some 25 to 50% of total mining costs in a typical open pit and commonly is the largest single cost factor. Obviously then, cost reduction efforts should properly focus on improving existing haulage systems and developing new breakthrough techniques for material transport. Continuous flow systems for large tonnages ordinarily will result in a lower cost than batch systems such as truck or rail haulage. Continuous flow with pipelines for liquids and slurries, or conveyors for medium to coarse dry materials (in the -8-in. range) are the economic answers for bulk materials handling over reasonable distances.

Jan 11, 1968

By A. J. Carlson, G. M. Marincel, M. L. Hovland, J. H. Healy

Research personnel of Erie Mining Co., a pioneer taconite mining firm on the Mesabi Range, have invented a new method to make an effective 325 mesh separation at high tonnage rates over stationary screens. The company regards this development as historically significant in that it represents the first successful method to commercially screen large tonnages of ore at fine sizes. Erie, which is now completing an expansion program at its plant site near Hoyt Lakes, Minn., has incorporated this screening method as part of that expansion. When completed, the concentration plant will produce 10.3 million tons of iron concentrate, all of which will have been efficiently screened at 325 mesh.

Jan 4, 1967

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members) The following is a partial list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period May 10,1917, to June 10, 1917. F. J. Anderson, Cali, Colombia. W. F. Jahn, Kirkland Lake, Ont., Canada. George J. Bancroft, Denver, Colo. W. McA. Johnson, Hartford, Conn. W. F. B. Berger, Denver, Colo. J. E. Jopling, Marquette, Mich. F. J. Brulé, Toronto, Ont., Canada. William Kelley, Vulcan, Mich. J. Murray Clark, Toronto, Ont., Canada. H. M. LaFollette, La Follette, Tenn. Will L. Clark, Jerome, Ariz.. Dorsey A. Lyon, Washington, D. C. G. H. Clevenger, Palo Alto, Cal. James F. Magee, Lancaster, Pa. Paul S. Couldrey, Sound Beach, Conn. M. Ortin, Nijni-Novgorod, Russia. C. W. Crispell, Kingston, N. Y. - C. H. Palmer, Jr., Los Angeles, Cal. George A. Easley, La Paz, Bolivia. Edison S. Pettis, ?Mill Valley, Cal. Bancroft Gore, Butte, Mont. Mortimer A. Sears, Paintsville, Ky. John B. Guernsey, Roanoke, Va. W. J. Uren, Houghton, Mich. Rush M. Hess, St. Louis, Mo. C. E. Visel, New Haven, Conn. E. Hibbert, Nickelton, Ont., Canada. Percy E. Barbour, has resigned his position as managing editor of the Engineering & Mining Journal, to accept the appointment of Deputy Superintendent of the New York State Troopers, with headquarters at Albany, N. Y., with the rank of captain.. He has also been commissioned as captain in the 22nd Regiment, N: Y. N. G., having been formerly 1st Lieutenant.

Jan 7, 1917

By J. PARK

Discussion of the paper of J. PARSE CHANNING, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 99, March, 1915, pp. 529 to 538. FRED H. RINDGE, JR., * New York, N. Y.-It is interesting to note that although this movement was started only seven years ago at Yale, it has spread in that brief time to 200 colleges and technical schools, anti thousands of men are interested in it. There are 3,000 graduates who became acquainted with the movement in college days anti are now promoting the industrial betterment idea all over the country. Some of these men are employed entirely in this work, and the number of such workers is constantly increasing. We feel we are really doing a very fundamental thing in getting so many coming engineers and prospective employers of labor to interest themselves in these things which we have been discussing this morning; these things which are so vital to efficiency and success in any line of business or engineering to-clay. Of course the institutions located in our large industrial centers have the greatest opportunity for practical service. But I have just returned from one college, Pennsylvania State College, where 300 engineering students in three clays signed up as interested in this movement and as anxious to take active part in the work this summer. That is one of a number of colleges situated in towns where there are 110 industrial opportunities. Therefore, their field of service must be where they work

Jan 5, 1915

By L. R. Shoenberger

Boron has been used to produce nonaging low-carbon sheet steel. Retention of the necessary minimum amount of about 0.006 pet partially killed the steel. Amounts exceeding about 0.012 pet increased the degree of deoxidotion, piping tendencies, and possibility of hot tearing in primary rolling. Semikilled practice resulted in good ingot yields and satisfactory surface quality. Aluminum added with the boron provided a protective de-oxidizer. Good drawobility was indicated by performances of the steel in a limited number of deep-drawing trials. Some problems with hot-tearing and boron-analysis procedures were overcome. Metal lographically, the boron semikilled steels revealed some structures not usually found in plain low-carbon steels. IN 1943 Low and Gensamer1 reported that strain aging, which hardens and embrittles ordinary low-carbon rimmed steel, was due to nitrogen and carbon, and that oxygen played a relatively unimportant role. Since then, many investigators have substantiated their findings and indicated that nitrogen is particularly potent. Commercially, today's most widely produced non-aging sheet steels for deep drawing are either aluminum killed or vanadium rimmed types. The difference in deoxidation practice, alone, is evidence that oxygen is apparently not an important consideration in control of strain aging. The fact that nitrogen is important is apparent in the consideration that has been given, knowingly or unknowingly, to the amount combined with aluminum and vanadium. Patents were granted to Hayes and Griffis2 for the processing of aluminum-killed steel, and to Epstein" for the manufacture of vanadium rimmed material. Certain prescribed steps in producing these steels can be correlated with the formation of the respective nitrides within certain temperature ranges below the usual hot-finishing temperatures. The potential nonaging properties of either type can be reduced or suppressed by cooling too rapidly to permit the aluminum or vanadium to combine with nitrogen. Subsequent suberitical annealing of the cold-rolled strip, however, normally forms the nitrides and produces the resistance to strain aging. Titanium-killed nonaging steel, described by Comstock,1 forms a nitride in the molten state and is essentially nonaging throughout its processing. Zirconium-killed steel, which was investigated briefly by the author,* appeared to have similar nitride- forming characteristics. It is known" that chromium can produce nonaging rimmed steel, but relatively little is known of the potentialities of some of the other nitride-forming elements such as boron, silicon, columbium, and cerium. In attempting to develop a new nonaging cold-rolled sheet steel with good drawability, the following factors were considered pertinent. Such a steel would necessarily have a low carbon content and therefore have a relatively high degree of oxidation when made in a basic open-hearth furnace. If the denitriding element were also a deoxidizer, a part of the addition would be lost as oxide. The degree of deoxidation would determine whether the steel is rimmed, semikilled or killed, and also could be expected to have an important bearing on ingot yields and ultimate surface quality. Assuming that the pattern for the production of cold-rolled sheets would not be changed to any great extent, the nitride must form in the molten steel, in hot rolling, in subsequent cooling, or in annealing. The nitride, once formed, should resist dissociation and be stable in the final product. Usually an excess of the nitride-forming element is required to combine with sufficient nitrogen. If the element used is a strong ferrite strengthener, a small excess may markedly decrease drawability. With aluminum and vanadium, about 0.03 to 0.05 pct in the steel is preferred. Epstein has said" that about 0.30 pct chromium is required. Titanium nonaging steels are hard unless a sufficient amount (about 0.30 pct) is added also to combine with the carbon. The cost of the necessary amounts of these latter two elements discourages commercial acceptance. Silicon was considered as a possible nitride former, but since amounts up to 0.10 pct in rimmed and semikilled steels do not induce marked resistance to strain aging, larger amounts are apparently required, which would tend to harden and strengthen the ferrite. Of the other elements mentioned, all but boron are expensive heavy-metal elements. Stoichi-ometrically, almost an equal weight of boron would be required to combine with the nitrogen—-ordinarily about 0.003 to 0.006 pct in scrap-practice open-hearth steels. Boron is a slightly stronger deoxidizer than carbon but is less powerful than zirconium, aluminum, or titanium. Thus a rimmed-steel practice might be possible. There is much in the technical literature concerning the hardenability effects of minute amounts of boron in killed steels but very little about its behavior in low-carbon material—particularly as a ferrite strengthener. The available data indicated a need for better information concerning the effects of boron in low-carbon strip steels. Experimental Work Development of a Boron-Treated Nonaging Strip Steel—Initial attempts to produce a boron-rimmed strip steel employed 3-ton basic open-hearth heats which could be teemed into molds large enough to sustain a normal rimming action. Boron as ferro-boron was added to the ladle in small amounts because of the reported hot-short character of aluminum-killed heat-treating grades containing more than about 0.005 pct boron. Actually, the amounts used, i.e., 1/8 and 1/4 lb per ton, would be large for

Jan 1, 1959